Niagara College’s Community Employment Services (CES) has teamed up with the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre (SCEC) to strengthen support for aspiring entrepreneurs in the Niagara region. This new partnership was designed to create new pathways for students and alumni to launch or grow small businesses, contributing to both local economic development and individual career advancement.
At the center of this collaboration is the Starter Company Plus program, which provides eligible entrepreneurs with grant funding, expert mentorship, and business training. Through this partnership, NC will help promote the program to students and alumni, facilitating access to these valuable resources and bridging the gap between academic education and real-world entrepreneurial success.
NC’s Community Employment Services team plays a key role in connecting the college community with the Starter Company Plus program. This includes:
- Sharing information with students and alumni through outreach, workshops, and promotional events
- Encouraging entrepreneurial thinking as part of experiential learning and career readiness.
- Showcasing the success stories of NC students and graduates who have launched businesses through the program
Benefits for students and alumni include:
- Up to $5,000 in Grant Funding to help start or expand a business
- One-on-one mentorship from experienced business coaches and industry professionals
- Business Skills Development through training in planning, marketing, and financial management
- Networking Opportunities with local entrepreneurs, business leaders, and support organizations
- Applied Learning Pathways that connect classroom learning to real-world business ownership
Entrepreneurial Partnership Launch Event – August 19
To kick off this partnership, NC and the SCEC are co-hosting the Entrepreneurial Launch Event on August 19 at Benchmark Restaurant, located at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
This event will highlight new opportunities for student and alumni entrepreneurs while showcasing SCEC programs such as Starter Company Plus and Summer Company, which offer grant funding, mentorship, and training for launching and growing small businesses in Niagara.
What attendees can expect:
- Learn about current grant and mentorship opportunities available to students, alumni, and community entrepreneurs
- Discover how these programs may align with curriculum, capstone projects, field placements, or student services initiatives
- Network with faculty, staff, alumni, industry experts, and community leaders
- Celebrate and support Niagara College’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem
Event highlights:
- Keynote Speaker: Jenn Harper, Founder & CEO of Cheekbone Beauty
Jenn Harper is the founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, one of the first Canadian Indigenous-owned and founded cosmetics companies. A nationally recognized social entrepreneur, she has grown Cheekbone Beauty from a start-up into an international success while championing sustainability, inclusion, and Indigenous leadership. - Entrepreneur spotlights: Hear firsthand from Starter Company Plus recipients, including NC alumni and local entrepreneurs, as they share their journeys, lessons learned and how grant funding has supported their business growth.
Guests will enjoy light fare by Benchmark Restaurant and refreshments throughout the event as they connect, learn, and network.
Please note, this is a free event with limited number of seats available, so early registration is encouraged. To register for the event, click here.
